Yankee Stadium Won't Stop Potty Trips In 7th Inning Stretch

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Two uniformed cops who ejected a Red Sox fan from Yankee Stadium last summer when he tried to use the bathroom during "God Bless America" have cost NYC taxpayers some $20,000 in settlement money. But the good news is that Yankee Stadium will now allow attendees relieve themselves during the Seventh Inning stretch! You'll recall that last August, one Brad Campeau-Laurion refused to obey an NYPD officer who ordered him back to his seat when he tried to use the bathroom as "God Bless America" played. According to Campeau-Laurion, two officers then forcefully threw him out, with one of the officers telling him to "leave the country if he didn’t like it." In the wake of 9/11, Yankee stadium began requiring spectators to remain in their seats during patriotic songs, in some cases extending chains to block the ends of the aisles. But after a lawsuit filed by the NYCLU over "enforced patriotism," a settlement was reached yesterday whereby Campeau-Laurion gets $10,001 from the city, the NYCLU gets $12,000 for legal fees, and baseball fans are granted the liberty to micturate at will.

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By John Del Signore in News on July 7, 2009 12:43 PM

Comments [rss]

ANGRYGOD11

Does NYPD even care about these legal cases?

There is no law against public photography or videorecording NYPD and this is has been held up by law, and NYPD STILL "enforces" imaginary laws.

felixthecat2

JDS is breaking stories. He really did great job on Hasidic officer verses Brooklyn woman.

felixthecat2

JDS is breaking stories. He really did great job on Hasidic officer verses Brooklyn woman.

Babycakes

More and more I'm seeing animalnewyork's content reposted on gothamist a few hrs later

cs

Babycakes, stupid. JDS, the MAN.

Comic Book Guy

Uh also, Animal's "content" was just a two sentence reblog of the NY Post.

John Del Signore

As noted above, this was originally Gothamist's story; in fact, I'm the one who broke it. I got the NYCLU's release on the settlement this morning, but we can't publish every story on the site at the exact same time; the news is spaced out through the day. If you prefer, feel free to enjoy Animal exclusively and forget about Gothamist; I won't miss your complaining.

fauxsella

Well, luckily, this hasn't devolved into any sort of name calling.

MaiaW

This was the right decision. This is New York. Live and let live. Coming from an organization whose owners support keeping the government out of our lives, it is highly ironic that this policy even saw the light of day. Then again, there are many GOPers who don't see the irony of their often conflicting "values."

abcohen

simply amazing!!!! wow just shocking at the stupidity of actions like this!

felixthecat2

NYCLU rules.

janelle

my least favorite part of the game, should have been left behind in the old stadium. or in 2001.

longacre

Why do you hate America?

SP

Why do you hate freedom? Why do you hate rational thought and compassion applied to public policy?

Gothampc

"Campeau-Laurion gets $10,001 from the city, the NYCLU gets $12,000 for legal fees"

There's the problem. Why should an organization (non-profit no less) get more than the person filing the complaint?

jaycjay

"There's the problem. Why should an organization (non-profit no less) get more than the person filing the complaint?"

Because they paid the legal fees. He gets the awarded damages and they get their expenses reimbursed. If he'd covered the legal expense himself, it all would have gone to him.

SP

I don't see it as a problem. He's getting a really nice pay day, and the NYCLU gets much needed funding so they can keep up the great work they do protecting us from fascists.

ides_of_march

God Bless America isn't the national anthem first of all. Secondly, it's not against the law to not stand at attention for it. It's wonderful that people do show respect and patriotism when these songs are played but the Yankees and a few individual cops are really off the wall to think they have the right to force anyone to.

Now, just remember to genuflect every time the sacred name of Obama is spoken.

SP

There are ZERO examples of anyone being mistreated by police for insulting Obama, although it happens all the time by your tea bagging buddies and other wingnuts. So what exactly is your point you moron?

drewo

$10,000 from the city on this one; another $1.5 million being asked from the city because a cop knocked over a bicyclist. The settlement slush fund is apparently bottomless. Is anyone keeping track of how much taxpayer money is given away annually due to the imbecilic actions of New York civil servants?

A city hiring freeze can save money in more ways than one.